Dear USPATH Membership:

Please see the below urgent request seeking support from mental health providers to support our trans military personnel and our armed services medical colleagues who are providing trans medical care. Please volunteer to assist if you are in any position to do so.

Thank you

Joshua Safer, MD USPATH President

Erica Anderson, PhD, USPATH President-Elect

Emilia Lombardi, PhD, USPATH Secretary-Treasurer

TRANS-AFFIRMATIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED TO SUPPORT ACTIVELY SERVING TRANSGENDER MILITARY PERSONNEL

SITUATION
Yesterday the Department of Defense released a new policy banning new enlistment/commissioning of transgender persons and restricting access to care for currently serving transgender persons. An exemption clause will allow service members who have a diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria provided by a military provider prior to APRIL 12, 2019 to stay in the military and receive transition related care. After this date, trans identified persons may continue serving only if they do not meet criteria for diagnosis, do not pursue trans affirming medical care, and are willing to serve in their assigned gender.  [Note from Sebastian: This situation is particularly dire for trans-identified service members because many recently came out to their command following the change in Obama Administration policy that finally allowed for open trans service. Now those who came out (often after years of hiding) are at risk of being discharged and/or not being allowed to undergo their needed and desired transition.]

Trans service members are seeking diagnoses from military providers so they can qualify for the exemption. However, many military providers have limited experience working with transgender patients and some have expressed hesitancy providing diagnoses in 1-2 sessions (prior to April 12, 2019 deadline). [Note from Sebastian: Although many military providers have expressed concern about this, it is actually quite typical and appropriate to provide an accurate diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria after one session with an individual - it is no longer even standard best practice for health care providers to require diagnoses from mental health care clinicians in order to begin gender-affirming transition-related treatment.]

ACTION REQUEST: 
SPART*A is compiling a list of trans-affirming providers who are currently licensed and willing to provide pro bono consultation to military mental health providers. This list will be shared with transgender service members (to bring with them to appointments) and through professional channels for military mental health providers (division 19, military medical community listservs, etc.). If you are open to providing this service, please provide the following information to Jacob.eleazer@spartapride.org

Name
Degree
State(s) of licensure
License Number 
Preferred contact information 
Brief statement about experience/competency diagnosing gender dysphoria
Brief statement about any experience working with service members/vets (if applicable-not required)

Please feel free to share with relevant colleagues and professional organizations.